For release on February 21, 2013
CONTACT:
Erin West
Deputy District Attorney
(408) 792-2976
A jury concluded today that a 50-year-old married San Jose man was sane when he fatally stabbed his girlfriend 11 times with a kitchen knife. The decision means that Peter Shui will face prison time rather than time in a forensic mental hospital.
Shui was found guilty Wednesday, February 20, 2013 of second-degree murder after a two-week trial in front of the Hon. David Cena. He faces more than 15-years-to-life when sentenced April 26.
“This killing had nothing to do with his claim of insanity,” prosecutor Erin West said. “This is a classic domestic
violence rage killing. I’m pleased the jury is holding him accountable.”
On August 3, 2011, Shui’s wife saw his 34-year-old girlfriend in a local strip mall and later confronted her unemployed husband about his lover’s expensive Louis Vuitton handbag.
A day later, the girlfriend – a Chinese national - and Shui were arguing at her San Jose apartment. When the victim angrily discounted his wife’s concerns, the drunk gambler picked up an 8-inch kitchen knife and attacked her.
An hour later, Shui called 911 to report her death. He told the dispatcher that he used a knife and that he “(injured) her so many times because she kept yelling at me,” according to the evidence.
During the one-day sanity phase of the trial, Shui portrayed himself as mentally disturbed, with no memory of the murder. However, prosecutor West brought to the stand two doctors, who testified there was nothing to support that Shui couldn’t understand the nature of the bloody killing.